Tan & Loom specialises in premium bags for the modern Indian woman, who prefer to make thoughtful purchases instead of compulsive ones. The brand creates handbags that leave behind the world of fast fashion and takes active steps to contribute to the world of slow fashion. Each piece is made from premium vegetable-tanned leather or genuine leather sourced from surplus stocks, and crafted by skilled, experienced artisans in their in-house 40-year-old heritage workshop.
An aesthetically designed olive green laptop friendly office bag that adds elegance and sophistication to a working woman’s everyday style
Owned by Rukmini Guha, a second-generation woman entrepreneur, who is carrying forward the legacy of her mother’s leather products export house, Tan & Loom was launched digitally in the middle of the Covid lockdown. Armed with a degree in Fashion Marketing & Management from the London College of Fashion (University of the Arts, London) and followed it up with her experience as a digital brand strategist for style and personal care labels like Lakme, TRESemme, VIP and others, Guha launched her own line of leather bags whose unique storytelling appeals to the contemporary Indian woman. To cater to the diverse needs of working professionals who are global in spirit and desi at heart, Tan & Loom has been divided into three distinct segments – Vintage Shop, Signature and Tan Classic — with functional yet stylish bags and accessories from laptop bags, totes and sling bags to wallets, passport holders, makeup bags and potlis, that are suitable for every professional and personal occasion.The premium homegrown label was recently in the spotlight when Guneet Monga, producer of docu-film The Elephant Whisperers (which later went on to win the Oscar) was seen carrying its potli-bag at the South Asian Excellence Pre-Oscars Celebration event at Los Angeles. With its strong digital presence, Tan & Loom had, since its inception, caught the attention of many celebrity stylists, who reached out to source bags for their clients. So when stylist Manisha Melwani approached Guha for bags, she naturally had no idea who the bags were for. Much later, she was astonished to spot Monga’s photographs online, carrying her bag at the Los Angeles party. “We were thrilled to be associated with her!” said Guha.The young entrepreneur has a straightforward brand philosophy. She wants to serve women who are keen to invest in “experiential affordable luxuries” and who “connect with individualism and demand a compelling brand story”. She also feels it is important to carry on India’s rich tradition of handloom and to support the people and culture from whom her designs are inspired. “We wish to give back to our community by sourcing Indian handloom and bringing Indian leather craftsmanship to the forefront through our brand.“Our aim is also to build a brand that is design-led and inherently Indian. In the next five years, we want to take the brand from being only an e-boutique to having a retail presence all over India and then to tap international markets digitally,” she signed off.
